Band-cutter and feeder for threshing-machines.



PATBNTED MAY 10, 1904.

J. E. SPONSELLER. BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1903.

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' J. E. SPONSELLER.

BAND CUTTER AND FEEDER FOR THRESHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1903.

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unmm vzrzns so. WOTO-k "no" wAsn UNITED STATES Patented May 10, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JOHN E. SPONSELLER, OF HOISINGTON, KANSAS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 759,322, dated May 10, 1904..

Application filed June 30, 1903.

To aZZ whom it may concern).-

Be it known that I, J ornv E. SPONSELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hoisington, in the county of Barton and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Band- (lutter and Feeder for Thresiding-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to band-cutters and feeders for tln'eshing-machines; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which shall be capable of being easily and conveniently adjusted according to the condition of the grain that is being fed, so as to feed the same at any desired rate of speed, such adjustment being accomplished in an extremely simple and convenient manner and without the use of automatic governing devices, which latter in a device of this kind are extremely liable to become obstructed, and consequently inoperative.

My improved adjusting device is so disposed and arranged as to be capable of being operated While the machine is running, this being an important feature, for the reason that the condition of the grain is not always uniform.

My improved feeding device is adapted to feed either bound or unbound grain, it being provided with band-cutting knives which will sever the bands when sheaves are fed to the machine.

My invention consists in certain improvements in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the constituent parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings hereto annexed I have shown one form of embodiment of my invention which is simple and effective; but I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself with regard to the structural details herein shown, but reserve the right to such changes as to size, proportion, and general manner of assemblage of the parts of the device as are within the spirit and scope of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a band-cutter and feeder constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention, the feeding device being shown as set to its greatest capacity. Fig. 2 is a lon- Seria1N0-163,766- (No model.)

gitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2.

separate cranks 2, which are set at different angles. The crank-shaft 2 has been shown as journaled in boxes or bearings 3, attached to uprights 4 of said frame. These uprights are provided with brackets 5 and 6, which converge forwardly and which are connected at their front ends by means of massive castings 7, having segmental slots 8. The castings 7 are connected by a cross-brace 9, and the uprights 1 of the frame are likewise connected by a cross-brace 10, said braces serving to hold the parts connected in their proper relative position, and thereby prevent unnecessary vibration when the device is in operation.

The castings 7 are provided on their inner sides adjacent to the segmental slots 8 with segment-racks 11, which are engaged by pinions 12 upon a shaft 13, the ends of which extend through the segmental slots, one or both of said ends being provided with handles 14. The shaft 13 carries between the segment-racks a tubular sleeve 15, upon which are mounted a plurality of blocks 16, which are capable of rocking independently upon the sleeve 15, while the latter in like manner is capable of oscillating upon the shaft 13. It will be observed that by turning the latter by means of the handle 14: the pinions at the ends of the shaft will engage the segment racks, thus causing the shaft 13, with its related parts, to move in an upward or downward direction in the segmental slots, according to the direction of rotation. Any suitable means may be provided for securing the shaft at any desired point of adjustment. This may, if desired, be accomplished by simply tightening the nuts 17, which hold the handles upon the endsof the shaft 13. It will be observed that by thus tightening the nuts upon the shaft 13 the segmentally-slotted brackets will be clamped between said nuts and the pinions 12. The inward strain thus exercised upon said pinions will, however, be prevented from causing the dislodgment of said pinions, owing to the interposition between them and the tubular shaft or sleeve 15, as will be readily understood. Consequently no matter to what extent the nuts 17 are tightened the tubular sleeve 15 will cause the brackets to remain properly spaced, and the blocks 16, journaled upon sleeve 15, will thus at all times be capable of rocking freely with relation to each other.

The blocks 16, which are journaled upon the sleeve 15, are each provided with a pair of downwardly-extending fenders 18, which are connected pivotally near their lower ends with the front ends of the feed-bars 19, which are provided with band cutting knives 19 and the rear ends of which are connected by means of boxes 20 with the cranks 2 upon the crankshaft 2, it being obvious that an equal number of cranks 2 and swinging blocks l6have been provided. The boxes 20, by means of which the feed-bars 19 are connected with the cranks, are preferably secured upon the upper sides of said feed-bars. The under sides of the latter carry at their front ends and directly under the cranks the feeders 22, which serve to convey the material fed to the cylinder. Owing to this construction the feeders only will engage the material that is to be fed to the cylinder, while the boxes or bearings upon which said feeders are mounted are disposed upon the upper sides of the feed-bars, and consequently out of the way, thereby avoiding the liability of clogging the feeding mechanism at this important point.

The braces 6 of the frame are provided with boxings or bearings in which is journaled a transverse shaft 23, which constitutes the operating-shaft of an endless carrier 24, which is mounted in a trough or casing 25 of ordinary construction, which is detachably connected with said shaft, so that when not in use it may be conveniently removed for transportation or storage. The outer end of the carrier-casing, which may be supported in any suitable manner, is provided with a shaft 26 to support the outer end of the endless carrier. The latter is constructed in the ordinary manner of chains 27, engaging sprocket-wheels 28 and 29 upon the shafts 23 and 26 and connected at intervals by slats 30, engaging the bottom 31 of the carrier-trough.

The crank-shaft 2 has a band-wheel 32, from which a belt 33 extends to the source of power. This belt normally runs slack when it is not desired to operate the feeding device. When it is desired to throw the latter into active operation, this may be accomplished by means of a tightening-pulley 34, mounted upon a lever 35, which is suitably fulcrumed upon the frame of the device and the handle end of which engages a rack 36, whereby it may be held in adjusted position.

The crank-shaft 2 carries adjacent to the band-wheel 32 a pinion 37, which meshes with a spur-wheel 38, which is journaled upon a stub attached to the frame and which also carries a sprocket-wheel 39, connected by a chain 10 with a sprocket-wheel 11 upon the shaft 23 of the endless carrier, which is thus driven when the machine is in operation.

42 designates a-feed-plate which is hingedly connected at its inner end with the frame of the machine, said inner end being extended under the delivery end of the endless carrier. This frame is adapted to extend over the feed-table of the machine to which the device is applied, so that the material passing from the endless carrier will be carried by the feeder 20 over said feed-plate and between the cylinder and concave of the machine. This plate 12 is not only detachable, in order that it may be removed when necessary to afiord access to the operating parts of the device, but it is my intention to provide means whereby its rear or delivery end may be vibrated, thus serving to agitate the material that is being delivered to the threshing mechanism, the advantage of which is obvious, inasmuch as lumps or knots which may exist in the grain, especially when the latter is damp and tangled, will have an opportunity of being disentangled before passing to the threshing mechanism. This vibration or agitation of the feed-plate may be accomplished in numerous well-known ways.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be well understood. When the crankshaft 2 is in operation, motion is transmitted to the endless carrier 24: and likewise to the feed-bars 19, which in turn serve to vibrate the fenders 18, depending from the oscillating blocks 16. These fenders have been previously set to any desired elevation according to the condition of the grain that is to be operated upon, thereby positively limiting the amount of grain fed to the machine. By manipulating the handles 14 of the shaft traveling in the segmental slots 8 the said fenders, together with the front ends of the feed-bars, may be elevated so as to permit any desired quantity of grain to pass to the machine. It is obvious that the fenders also operate as feeders, which by positively engaging the grain will force it under the feed-bars, which latter are provided with band-cutting knives 19, which latter in addition to cutting the bands naturally assist in feeding the grain.

The entire device is simple, easily operated, and very effective for the purposes for which it is intended.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a band-cutter and feeder, a crankshaft, a vertically-adjustable shaft, a sleeve teaser,

effect the vertical adjustment thereof, a sleeve I 5 mounted upon said shaft between the pinions thereof, blocks independently oscillatory upon said sleove,ienders depending from said blocks, a driven crank-shaft, and feed-bars connecting the latter With the fenders and provided with band-cutting knives.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN E. SPONSELLER.

Witnesses:

BRUCE TYLER, P. B. MnNNs. 

